This document produced by Aberdeen City Council is designed to provide up to date information primarily for local council services and Community Planning partners to assist with policy development and service delivery. The document includes indicatory data on inward migration flows of migrant workers to the area, and incorporates data such as country of origin and comparative data on registrations compared with elsewhere in Scotland. In addition, the document also includes the locations of migrant workers within Aberdeen, and draws upon information gathered from National Insurance Number allocations to overseas nationals via the Department of Work and Pensions and the annual Pupils in Scotland Census – which details pupils whose main home language is not English. The analysis shows Aberdeen to be the third highest area for numbers of registered migrant workers behind only Edinburgh and Glasgow, with Aberdeenshire found to be the sixth highest. Read More

Commissioned by the Home Office, this report by Ager and Strang (2004) outlines their proposed Indicators of Integration framework as a useful tool for both policy makers and anyone involved in refugee integration. Central to their framework is the conceptual division of integration into separate but interconnected categories (domains) within which suggested indicators which allow a practical way for integration progress to be measured are contained. As well as providing an overview of how the framework was developed, the report provides a clear explanation of the framework and its structure, and includes suggestions on how it could be utilised. Through the authors’ consideration of the variety found within conceptions of integration, Ager and Strang (2004) bring the study of refugee integration a step closer to developing a consistent and universal understanding within a UK context. See also subsequent work on integration by the same authors; Ager and Strang (2008); Ager and Strang (2010). Read More

Widely held as a seminal work, Ager and Strang present their framework as a tool for those seeking a better understanding of integration, the study has contributed greatly to subsequent debate. The authors base their work on the current salience of migration and refugee resettlement, both within the realm of public debate and policy objectives, which are found by the authors to be jeopardised by contested definitions. From this base, Ager and Strang conduct their study amidst a contextual consideration of perceptions of what successful integration actually comprises. Thus, a framework is constructed encompassing central spheres and associated themes for examining and measuring access and achievement of migrants and refugees within education; employment; health and housing sectors; rights and citizenship; community and social connections; and associated structural and cultural barriers (See also additional work on integration by the same authors: Ager and Strang 2004; Ager and Strang 2010). Read More

This study builds upon earlier work (See Ager and Strang 2004; and 2008) whereby the authors proposed a conceptual framework for analysis of refugee integration. In this paper, Ager and Strang (2010) employ their conceptual framework and demonstrate its utility in formulating coherent discussion amongst interested parties (whether academic, policy maker or practitioner). The authors provide an interesting discussion of what they identify as key issues; primarily how the social space inhabited by refugees is affected by established notions of nationhood and citizenship; how the idea of social capital is used in relation to social connections, trust and mutual benefit and, they propose a way forward amidst an array of social meaning and identities by expanding the concept of integration as a two way process. Finally they consider the relationship between integration trajectories as charted by their framework, and the concept of resource acquisition spirals. Read More

Aspinall and Watters (2010) provide a comprehensive account of issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers within a number of domains including health, education and employment. The report is particularly relevant within a Scottish context as it outlines the situation found in Scotland as part of a section devoted to geographical differences within the UK. Following a brief outline of Scotland’s response to asylum seekers over past decades through the asylum dispersal programme of the UK Government and Glasgow’s principal participation, the authors provide detail of issues concerning housing; destitution; healthcare; integration of asylum seekers and refugees; children and young people; media and public attitudes, before finally touching on some of the differences found between Scottish and UK government policy. See also Ager and Strang (2010) for a study which focuses on refugee integration; Mulvey (2013); and Threadgold and Court (2005). Read More

For an insight into past experience of integration into Scottish life, this paper by Aspinwall provides an insightful account of how the mass identity of Scotland’s Catholics aligned with the Roman Catholic church, as a group only advanced within Scottish society following political, social and educational changes. Such changes, most notably in voting rights, education, and the emergence of the Labour Party, coincided with a demise in church hierarchy. Until this time, the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland had galvanised a poorly educated and low skilled flock into a coherent community in the midst of poverty and deprivation. This had been achieved through building social bonds and morality by way of a conservative brand of religion, set against a backdrop of prejudice. Read More

Although conducted over two decades ago, Bailey et al (1994) provide analysis of Scotland’s Chinese community, focusing on their economic and employment characteristics; housing and household structure; and analysis of urban settlement patterns. Drawing upon the 1991 Scottish census data, the authors also provide a brief but interesting historical background to Chinese migration to the UK and later arrival to Scotland. There is also a discussion of the debate over whether or not the Chinese can be said to constitute a community. Based upon the study’s findings, the authors reflect upon policy considerations which could best meet the needs of Scotland’s Chinese population in a culturally sensitive manner. The study was – and still is - viewed very much as a starting point in terms of researching this community. It highlights the presence in Scotland of a significantly under researched and distinct ethnic minority. Read More

Bailey et al (1995) highlight the significant place of the Pakistani community in Scotland as a distinct population group, particularly in terms of demographics, housing and career/occupation compared to Scotland’s wider population. Drawing upon 1991 Census data, the study examines the household composition and economic position of Scotland’s Pakistanis in addition to shedding light on their pattern of settlement across Scotland. The authors find distinct patterns emerge from the data which suggest a notable contrast with those of the general Scottish population. Although dating from 1995, the authors’ inclusion of a historical background the study provides a useful insight into one of Scotland’s important ethnic minority communities. For more on Scotland’s Pakistani community, see an earlier study by Bowes et al. (1990a) and a subsequent study by Saeed et al. (1999) which focuses on issues of identity among Glasgow’s Pakistani teenagers. Read More

Barnard and Turner (2011) produced this report on behalf of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It examines existing evidence on the relationship between poverty and ethnicity. The report succinctly summarises the evidence within the domains of education, work, caring, social networks, inequality and the role of place. The report also emphasises the need to understand the connection between these domains and features of ethnic identity, whether religion, age or gender related. In addition, the influence of community actions, location and broader interactions with wider structures - such as social services, the labour market and social norms - on outcomes for an individual is considered. While the report also draws attention to migrant worker susceptibility to low-paid and low-status employment, importantly, it also offers a better understanding of how to support action on poverty amongst ethnic groups. Read More